By Soni Daniel
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has said that its call for the implementation of the National Health Act, which was passed into law by the National Assembly since 2014, is for the overall improvement of healthcare delivery in Nigeria and not for the welfare of doctors.

The National President of the NMA, President, Prof Mike O.Ogirima, made the clarification in a statement he sent to Vanguard to clear the erroneous impression that the association was asking for welfare for its members under the National Health Act.
Ogirima said, “It is not true that the NMA called on President Muhammadu Buhari to pay them their entitlements or face their wrath. We did not say that and the issue at stake does not have to do with doctors’ entitlements but the total improvement of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

“What we asked the President to do during our Health Walk on Wednesday was for the Federal Government to implement the National Health Act, which was passed into law in 2014.
Prof Ogirima said, “As you are all aware, the National Health Act was enacted in 2014 with provisions that have the potentials to turn around the fortune of the hitherto bastardized health sector.

“The passage into law of the Act by the national assembly and subsequent assent by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was received with a sigh of relief by the general public and the Nigerian Medical Association in particular.
“This was because the Act made specific provision for Basic Health Care Fund which is a first line charge on the consolidated revenue of the federal government. This fund is to be primarily deployed to our primary health care which has been so neglected in the past and start reversing the unacceptable health indices in the country.

“The fund is to take care of the basic minimum health package through National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), provision of essential drugs and consumables, equipment and infrastructure, training of health workers and provision of emergency care.

The Nigerian Doctors are saying that the time to implement the Health Act is now; we can no longer wait.
“I therefore call on Mr. President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to immediately start the operation of the National Health Act without further delay.

“It is our strong belief that at a time like this that our economy is in recession, we cannot afford to leave the ordinary Nigerians on the street to their fate in seeking health care.
“Implementation of NHA with increased enrollment in NHIS will bring about the much desired Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which is the way to ensure healthy citizens.

“Our patients will trust our health system if agencies to regulate our health system ensure that Certificate of Standard is issued to all health facilities across the country whether private or public.